Kick-over tool

ABSTRACT

In a construction which is alternative to that shown in the parent disclosure, a kick-over tool is provided which has four arms having pivot points near the mid-point. They are to be contrasted with the bow strings of the parent disclosure. The arms are clamped by an external slidable sleeve. In the up position, the sleeve locks a knuckle joint in the tool which maintains it stiff and straight. The up position also clamps the four arms against a central shaft. When it is time to operate the kick-over tool, oil or mechanical jars connected above the tool are operated to jar the sleeve downwardly. This frees up a knuckle joint to enable the lower portions of the tool to flex sideways into a side pocket for installation of a tool which is carried on a pulling or running tool mounted below the kick-over tool. When the sleeve moves downwardly, freeing the knuckle, two of the four opposing arms are freed to deflect outwardly. The two which do not deflect outwardly remain clamped because of the absence of room in the tubing at this point. The two which reflect outwardly kick the lower end of the tool into the side pocket, enabling the pulling or running tool therebelow to place the tool to be installed in the side pocket. The arms which deflect are subsequently forced back in against the side of the tool on retrieving the kick-over tool from the side pocket back into the restraint of the smaller tubing string.

Unite States Patent Neal [ 1 Feb. 25, 1975 1 KICK-OVER TOOL [76] Inventor: William C. Neal, Rt. 2 Box 23-13,

Cut Off, La. 70345 22 Filed: Feb. 4, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 439,082

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuationin-part of Ser. No. 338,105, March 5,

1973, Pat. No. 3,828,353.

Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink [57] ABSTRACT In a construction which is alternative to that shown in the parent disclosure, a kick-over tool is provided which has four arms having pivot points near the midpoint. They are to be contrasted with the bow strings of the parent disclosure. The arms are clamped by an external slidable sleeve. 1n the up position, the sleeve locks a knuckle joint in the tool which maintains it stiff and straight. The up position also clamps the four arms against a central shaft. When it is time to operate the kick-over tool, oil or mechanical jars connected above the tool are operated to jar the sleeve downwardly. This frees up a knuckle joint to enable the lower portions of the tool to flex sideways into a side pocket for installation of a tool which is carried on a pulling or running tool mounted below the kick-over tool. When the sleeve moves downwardly, freeing the knuckle, two of the four opposing arms are freed to deflect outwardly. The two which do not deflect outwardly remain clamped because of the absence, of room in the tubing at this point. The two which reflect outwardly kick the lower end of the tool into the side pocket, enabling the pulling or running tool therebelow to place the tool to be installed in the side pocket. The arms which deflect are subsequently forced back in against the side of the tool on retrieving the kickover tool from the side pocket back into the restraint of the smaller tubing string.

10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures KICK-OVER TOOL This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 338,105, filed Mar. 5, 1973, now US. Pat. No. 3,828,853 bearing the same title, by the same inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the co-pending application, a kick-over tool is disclosed which utilizes bow springs. The device includes a set of dogs which drag on the facing surface of the tubing string. When a side pocket is located, the tool is pulled upwardly momentarily to drag the dogs against the tubing wall. This pulls the sleeve downwardly and prepares the tool for installation by freeing the four bow springs. When the tool enters the side pocket, two of the bow springs do not deflect outwardly at all. One bow spring expands into the side pocket and the spring opposite it moves against the wall kicking the tool into the side pocket. The apparatus of the present invention functions somewhat differently, particularly in contrast to the mode of operation set forth above.

The tool of the present invention is adapted to be installed on a wire line below a set of oil or mechanical jars. Jars made by Spang can be readily adapted for use with this tool. A running or pulling tool is attached below. The device includes asleeve which has up and down positions. In the up position, it locks a pivot or knuckle joint of the sort shown in the parent disclosure. The sleeve has windows or ports which are elongate slots cut in the side of the sleeve to permit four arms to selectively deflect outwardly. Only two arms deflect outwardly at a time. Two arms remain clamped against a central shaft even during kickover operation. The two sets of two arms are of similar construction. They'all tral shaft through the tool. The-other end is connected to a spring captured inside a sub. For one pair of arms, the pivot point is located at the upper end and the spring which kicks it outwardlyis located at the lower end. The reverse is true for the other set of arms. The sub for one set of arms carries pivot points for that set and thus encompasses the spring for the second set. The spring is centrally located in the sub and is surrounded by a tubular portion of the sub. The sub is slotted to enable the arms which engage the spring therein to extend through the slot for flattening and for pivotal movement outwardly. A better understanding of the operation of the device will result from a description of the preferred embodiment which is set forth herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view along the length of the kickover tool of the present invention showing construction of two sets of arms which operate independently of one another, which arms are compressed by a sleeve slidably mounted on the exterior; and,

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the tool after kick-over wherein one set of arms has been extended outwardly after movement of the sleeve downwardly which frees a knuckle enabling deflection of the tool into a side pocket in the tubing string.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT in the enlargement 18. The enlargement I8 is threaded i on the exterior and a hollow locl ring 24 engages the threads. The lock ring has a central or axial passage. The lock ring 24 also incorporates a curving shoulder which conforms with the sphere 20. The curving shoulder, in cooperation with the indentation l8, captures the sphere 20. The lock ring extends to a point below the equator of the sphere 20 so as to capture it positively between the enlargement and itself. The lock ring threads solidly against the enlargement 18. In this pos ture, it stillleaves slight clearance for the sphere so it rotates without binding. The sphere rotates about its vertical axis. The sphere also rotates through a horizontal axis through the sphere as viewed in FIG. I. This enables the shaft 22 to deflect to the right or left as viewed in FIG. 1. Lateral deflection of the shaft 22 is permitted inasmuch as the lock ring 24 incorporates a tapered internal passage or opening 26. This opening enables the shaft 22 to deflect through an angle which depends on the angle of taper of the opening or passage 26. It can be made fairly large, but this is not ordinarily necessary in most circumstances.

The lock ring 24 has a reduced diameter in comparison with the enlargement 18. This defines a downwardly facing shoulder. An external sleeve 28 is slidably positioned on the exterior of the lock ring 24. Its upward position is limited by the facing shoulder on the enlargement as illustrated in FIG. 1. It has a down position shown in FIG. 2 which will be described. The sleeve 28 incorporates a slot 30 for one arm. The slot 30 is repeated at various points around the periphery to enable all the arms to be described to deflect outwardly through the sleeve. The sleeve has a lower ring portion 32 where the slots terminate. The ring portion 32 clamps the arm as will be described against kickover until the tool islocated atthe proper elevation in the tubing string.

The shaft 22 is threaded at the lower end and threads into a tubular fitting 36. The fitting 36 has upper and lower axial holes drilled and tapped to engage the shaft 22 and a central shaft 40. The shaft 40 extends the full length of the tool parallel to the arms. At the lower end, the shaft 40 is threaded to a bottom sub 42. The sub 42 is drilled and tapped at 44 to enable the kick-over tool to be threaded to a pulling or running tool which supports a side pocket .gas lift valve or other equipment to be placed in the side pocket. The shaft 44 is surrounded by four arms. A first arm is shown in FIG. 1 and is indicated in full line at 46. A second arm 48 is representative of a second pair. Four arms are incorporated and are arranged at ninety degree intervals around the elongate shaft 40. Two arms comprise the pair 46. The remaining two arms comprise the pair 48. The two pairs are alternately placed.

A hollow sub 50 is appended to the lower portions of the tubular member 36. It fits about the arm 40 and defines an annular volume to receive a compressed coil spring 52. The spring 52 bears against the tubular member 36. It is shown in the compressed state in FIG. 1. The spring 52 works against a circular ring 54. The ring 54 serves as a pivot pin for the arms 48. The two arms thus include openings at the upper end which engage the ring 54. The ring functions as a member which compresses the spring 52 and which pivotally mounts the arms 48 for deflection.

The sub 50 terminates in an inwardly directed collar 56. The collar 56 supports a pair of downwardly extending tabs 58 which are pin connected at 60 to the arms 46. As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the arms 46 connect at a point well below the point of connection of the arms 48. Notwithstanding this appearance, all of the arms are equal in length and are arranged in a manner to be described.

The lower end of the tool is constructed in a similar fashion to the upper end. The bottom sub 42 is connected to a similar hollow sub 64 which receives the spring 66 on the interior adjacent to the shaft 40. The spring 66 bears against the arms 46. It is connected by means of a circular ring to the arms. The arms pivot about the connection described. The arms 48 are connected to tabs extending upwardly from the sub 64.

The two pairs of arms are equal in length. They are mounted at different elevations on the tool. As shown in FIG. 1, several pivot points are at the same elevation as indicated by the pivot member 68. A cam lob 70 on the interior of the arm bears against the shaft 40 and tends to deflect the arm slightly at the pivot point. This prevents the arm from locking in a straight position.

The elongate sleeve 28 on the exterior of the tool slides over the lower sub 64 and the bottom sub 42. It includes preferably four elongate slots which are located to enable the four arms to deflect outwardly. In FIG. 1 it is shown in the up position which locks the knuckle joint. In FIG. 2 it is in the down position. It is moved downwardly by jarring of the tool through the use of a typical jar mechanism such as one manufactured by Spang. This is achieved when the tool has been run in a tubing string to the desired elevation. it is run in the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, namely the sleeve 21 is in the up position. This locks the knuckle to keep the tool straight. When the tool is straight, it does not deflect into the side pocket. The arms are latched close to the central shaft 40 and cannot deflect.

When the tool is jarred, the sleeve 28 moves downwardly freeing the knuckle to enable the lower portions of the tool to deflect freely to the side. Downward movement repositions the slots in the sleeve to enable the arms to deflect outwardly. It is not necessay for all four arms to deflect outwardly. Each pair of arms has its own spring which forces the arms outwardly. The springs are compressed along the shaft 40. The force is parallel to the shaft and bears on the ends ofthe respective arms. The spring forces the ends of a given arm toward one another, causing the arm to pivot about the center pivot point 68. Each arm includes three pivot points as illustrated in thedrawings. The arms deflect outwardly, preferably in pairs. When the tool is positioned in a tubing string near a side pocket, one pair of the arms is constrained against opening. The remaining pair of arms enables the tool to kick to an angle in the side pocket. It is immaterial which set of arms remains constrained and which set of arms opens up. In either case, after the sleeve 28 has been jarred downwardly, all four of the arms are enabled for deflection. Each pair is independently spring loaded. Thus, the spring which operates on the pair 46 is not the same as the spring which forces the pair 48 toward an open position. One pair or the other will find the side pocket and one arm will open into the side pocket while its opposite mate will open against the tubing wall. This provides lateral deflection of the lower portions of the tool into the side pocket. This pivotal movement occurs about the sphere 20. Pivotal movement about the sphere 20 is permitted by the construction of the sphere, the mounting shaft 20, and the lock ring 24.

After operation of the tool, the arms which are extended are readily compressed against the body of the tool for retrieval. The tool illustrated in FIG. 2 is pulled upwardly into the tubing string. When it leaves the side pocket and returns to a tubing string of circular construction, the arms are gently forced back against the central shaft 40, thereby restoring the tool to a diameter enabling it to fit in the tubing string. The tool is pulled up and out of the side pocket through the tubing string.

The foregoig is directed to the preferred embodiment, and describes its operation. Many advantages will be observed from reading the description of the preferred embodiment. However, the scope ofthe present invention is determined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A kick-over tool for installing or removing apparatus in side pockets in wells, comprising:

an elongate body,

swivel means at the top of said elongate body; lock means immobolizing said swivel means, said lock means incorporating a telescoping sleeve about said body which has one position locking said swivel means;

centering arm means on said body at multiple locations about the circumference thereof;

said sleeve means having openings through which said arm means extend, said openings selectively maintaining said arm means in withdrawn and extended positions;

means at the lower end of said elongate body adapted to be connected to an installation or retrieval tool; and,

said lock means and said sleeve means enabling selected extension of said arm means to cause said elongate body to move about said swivel means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said swivel means includes a captured sphere having an extending connected shaft which is connected to said elongate body.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said arm means include two pairs of arm means alternately arranged around said elongate body.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each pair of arm means is connected to a spring means urging said arm means toward an extended position, and said spring means for each pair is independently operable.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein one of said pair of arm means has a spring means near its upper end and the remaining pair has a spring means near its lower end.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said arm means includes a central pivot and said spring means acts along said arm means to cause said arm means to pivot about said pivot point.

' lateral deflection and said ring portion slides relative to said pivot points to clamp and unclamp said arm means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 including a spring means axially bearing on said arm means to deflect said arm means laterally. 

1. A kick-over tool for installing or removing apparatus in side pockets in wells, comprising: an elongate body; swivel means at the top of said elongate body; lock means immobolizing said swivel means, said lock means incorporating a telescoping sleeve about said body which has one position locking said swivel means; centering arm means on said body at multiple locations about the circumference thereof; said sleeve means having openings through which said arm means extend, said openings selectively maintaining said arm means in withdrawn and extended positions; means at the lower end of said elongate body adapted to be connected to an installation or retrieval tool; and, said lock means and said sleeve means enabling selected extension of said arm means to cause said elongate body to move about said swivel means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said swivel means includes a captured sphere having an extending connected shaft which is connected to said elongate body.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said arm means include two pairs of arm means alternately arranged around said elongate body.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each pair of arm means is connected to a spring means urging said arm means toward an extended position, and said spring means for each pair is independently operable.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein one of said pair of arm means has a spring means near its upper end and the remaining pair has a spring means near its lower end.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said arm means includes a central pivot and said spring means acts along said arm means to cause said arm means to pivot about said pivot point.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each pair includes a pivotal connection at the ends of said arms and a pivot point therebetween.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sleeve has an encircling ring portion which clamps said arm means in a withdrawn position.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said arm means have upper, middle and lower pivot points to enable lateral deflection and said ring portion slides relative to said pivot points to clamp and unclamp said arm means.
 10. THe apparatus of claim 9 including a spring means axially bearing on said arm means to deflect said arm means laterally. 